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Sunday, May 9, 2010

White Wool Purse

Happy Mother's DayI have wet felted a white wool purse for myself. I started the purse by wrapping a cereal box in plastic and then in bubble wrap. ( I forgot to take a photo of the box wrapped up). I started to layout white merino wool on my box. First in one direction and then the other direction. I wet it in warm water and soap. The box with the wool on it, fit nicely into the small vegetable sink. I fully enclosed the the box with felt. I played special attention to the corners as I was worried about not getting enough wool into the corners.I used bubble wrap under and around the box and wool as it sat in the sink.I rubbed the top and side of the wool to get it to start to felt. I would stop rubbing and add another direction.When I thought I had enough wool on my box, I cut open a top and took out the box. This will be the opening to my purse. I will not have any seams in my purse this way. I also rolled the purse on the counter with a piece of plastic inside. I was trying to make sure I had it well felted. I rinsed it well of all the soap and also poured boiling water on it.I also wanted to have handles for my purse. Here I am rolling the wool to felt using a sushi mat. I have a cotton cord inside the wool handle.I wanted to make a purse from felted wool for years. I bought this one from the Alberta Craft Council about five years ago or more. I love it and wanted to try my own some day. I was unsure how much wool I would need to use so I thought I would make a white one the first time. Next time I will have a better idea of the amount of wool I will need to dye.

I have not finished my purse yet. It is drying now. I plan to embellish it with beads when it is dry, I may add some other embellishments like silk or flowers. I also only have the handles placed into the holes I cut. I have to sew them in place so they do not fall out. I did not felt them in like my brought purse. I like the shape of my new purse, it is larger and will sit on the floor better. After embellishing I will have to show the finished project.

I just thought of an idea, I could dye my purse a colour with my wool dyes even now that it is felted. I will have to think on that for a few days.